Running a preschool parent survey during enrollment season reveals what drives families to choose your school—or walk away.
Traditional forms usually miss the nuanced reasons behind parent decisions. Conversational surveys dig deeper into tour experiences, competing options, and what truly drives each decision.
SMS and email-delivered surveys see much higher response rates when they feel like natural conversations, not another faceless form.
Essential enrollment questions that reveal parent priorities
Every parent values a different mix of safety, curriculum, flexibility, and community. To uncover what really matters during their preschool search, I use questions designed as genuine conversation starters. These naturally lead to deeper stories and detailed responses.
What were the most important factors in your search for a preschool?
This opens a window into decision criteria: location, teaching philosophies, cost, activities, or emotional “feel.”What had the biggest impact on your decision to reach out and schedule a tour?
I learn whether website content, online reviews, or word of mouth created the initial spark.Was anything missing from other preschools you considered that influenced your interest in us?
This exposes true points of difference and unmet needs.What hesitations, if any, did you have before engaging with us?
Lightly surfaces hidden uncertainties or external pressures.Is there anything we could do to make the enrollment process easier or more comfortable for you?
Improvement opportunities bubble up when parents feel heard.
Why conversational follow-ups matter: Open-ended questions become exponentially more valuable with AI-generated follow-ups that gently probe for specifics. If a parent says “flexible hours,” the AI can ask, “What does ideal flexibility look like for your family?” Every extra detail becomes a potential advantage for enrollment. According to recent research, conversational surveys achieve 3x higher response rates than traditional forms, thanks to their chat-like, human approach [1].
Capturing the real tour experience through parent eyes
In my experience, the campus tour makes or breaks enrollment. Families decide—sometimes subconsciously—if a preschool feels right during those first walkthroughs.
How did you feel during and after your tour?
I discover whether anxiety turns to excitement, or if something felt “off.”What stood out most—or least—about our classrooms and common areas?
Helps me see the space through new eyes: cleanliness, engagement, or sensory overload.How did our staff interact with you and your child?
Warmth and professionalism (or lack of it) leave enduring impressions.Was there anything unexpected or especially reassuring during your visit?
Brings positive surprises and overlooked strengths to the surface.
Traditional survey response | Conversational survey response |
|---|---|
"The staff was friendly." | "Ms. Ava knelt to say hi to my daughter and remembered her favorite animal from the application—made us feel instantly welcome." |
"Classrooms were clean." | "We loved seeing the messy art area in action—it showed us creativity is really encouraged." |
When a conversational survey follows up with prompts like “Can you tell me more about that moment?” or “How did your child react?” it uncovers the stories behind first impressions in a way static forms can’t. Probing for these anecdotes is exactly what Specific’s automatic AI follow-up questions do best. This transforms even simple surveys into ongoing dialogues—giving you the candid insights that drive better family experiences.
Understanding your competition and decision drivers
Most parents visit a handful of schools before making a choice. If I want to enroll more families, I need to know what alternatives they’re considering and which factors push or pull them toward a final decision.
Which other preschools did you consider or tour?
This gives context for your position in the local marketplace.What did you like most and least about those other preschools?
This direct comparison pinpoints areas where you shine or fall short.What factors made your final decision easiest—or hardest?
Uncovers deal-breakers and emotional triggers.Were there any questions you wish had been answered during your search?
Could reveal website or tour gaps your team hasn’t seen.
In a conversational format, gentle follow-up questions draw out unspoken concerns and rationale. That subtle “What do you mean by…” or “Can you give an example?” leads to truth bombs that forms never catch. Distributed as Conversational Survey Pages via email or SMS, you can reach parents before they decide—and when the moment is right for candid feedback.
Distribution matters: SMS and email surveys see response rates 3–5x higher compared to traditional forms, especially when combined with conversational AI [1][2]. When parents can reply during school pickup or a spare moment, you turn fleeting interest into real insight. That’s how you consistently outpace the competition.
Retention surveys that keep families engaged
It’s always easier to keep a happy family than to enroll a new one. Periodically checking in with current families helps me get ahead of issues before they boil over at re-enrollment time.
How satisfied are you with your child’s experience so far?
Open-ended so families explain what’s working—or what they wish were different.What’s the best thing about our preschool for your family?
Spotlights strengths and “signature moments” to nurture and promote.Is there anything we could improve for next term?
Proactively surfaces small annoyances so they don’t become reasons to leave.Would you recommend our school to a friend, and if so, what would you tell them?
Turns Net Promoter Score feedback into actionable word-of-mouth stories.
Regular pulse surveys, rather than annual check-ins, mean fewer surprises—and happier families. With AI-powered survey response analysis, I can spot recurring themes, echo concerns, and champion what parents love. For example, let’s say you use an analysis prompt like:
Summarize the top three reasons parents recommend our preschool, pulling specific language from their responses.
The AI distills parents’ words into concrete talking points for your tours, website content, and even teacher training. That’s top-tier retention strategy, powered by smart, ongoing engagement—not guesswork.
Research shows that chatbot-driven and conversational surveys achieve response rates between 35-45%, outclassing clunky forms and mobile apps for deeper parent engagement [1][2][3].
Turn parent insights into enrollment success
Don't settle for shallow data. Transform your enrollment and retention process by reaching parents where they are, sparking real conversations, and learning what truly matters. Ready to build a more insightful preschool parent survey? Create your own survey—Specific’s conversational survey platform gives you the most natural feedback experience for both you and your families.